Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms has been told that development funds amounting to Rs 1.15 billion have been allocated in the PSDP of the current fiscal year for uplift works in the constituency of Capt (Retd) Safdar, son in law of Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif.

The committee expressed resentment on this count saying allocating more funds for the constituency of the son in law of the PM and less funds for the constituencies of other law makers was sheer bias.

The Senate Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms met here on Friday under its Chairman, Senator Tahir Mashadi, at the Parliament House.

Senator Tahir Mashadi asked why a sum of Rs 1.15 billion had been earmarked in the PSDP budget for development works in the constituency of Capt (Retd) Safdar as MNA.

If these funds have been allocated to Capt (Retd) Safdar being a member of the National Assembly then why funds equal to this allocation have not been provided to other MNAs. The airport is being constructed at a cost of Rs 935 million in Mansehra for an aeroplane of Capt (Retd) Safdar.

TheSecretary Planning, Nasim Yousuf Khokhar, while briefing the committee said the CPEC project was worth 46 billion dollars. This amount would be utilised in different projects in different phases. A major investment would be made in energy projects. 38 projects would be launched under CPEC. These projects relate to different ministries.

The Balochistan additional secretary for planning told the committee that the said land of Balochistan was doubtlessly owned by the state but when the government goes there to take possession of this land then the tribesmen resist. It would take time to construct the western route. The eastern route would remain functional till the construction of the western route. Preference has been given to the eastern route because 75 per cent of the population lives there.

Senator Tahir Mashadi said the people were thinking that China was our all weather friend and every thing should be made clear on CPEC.

Senator Usman Kakar said the eastern railway route of CPEC was 900 kilometres longer than the western route but the government was giving priority to the eastern route. The land from Zhob to Quetta and from Quetta to Khuzdar was free of cost but the western route was nowhere in the government’s priority list. Other senators also stressed upon ensuring transparency in CPEC projects besides recommending the construction of the western route on priority basis.